WiMAX support

WiMAX is targeting high-speed mobile data and telecommunications services. Hardware for portable usage based on the IEEE802.16e standard is now availabe and deployment around the world is being executed, heavily promoted by Intel Capital. For example, a Dutch initiative called WorldMAX has the exclusive license to use the 3.5GHz band in The Nethelands to offer "internet-in-your-pocket" services.

Near Field Communication

Near Field Communication support would enable many new applications for the Neo1973 such as a digital wallet or electronic keys. NFC is designed to work at very short ranges (0-20cm) and can be used to pair devices for longer range/higher bandwidth communications such as Bluetooth. In fact, the recently introduced Bluetooth 2.1 Core Specification includes NFC support.

Camera

Video-capable camera

A camera that is able to take reasonable quality video and pictures is something many want. Applications vary from simple snapping, to gesture interfaces, video conferencing, barcode reading and more.

Some people can't take cameras into work - a model without the camera, or some way of removing the camera would be useful.

This is also useful for several business applications (like healthcare, servicing, etc)

Camera with macro - useful for taking pictures of flowers/insects, but also for scanning business cards for an automated business card to contact informantion process

Can we make the camera an option, many Government buildings do not allow camera phones

Video acceleration

3D acceleration

HMD

EPD

Or electronic paper display, EPD is used in many new devices such as the new Motorola motofone, sonys new e-reader and Irex's iliad. The technology provides thin, flexible, power saving screens using new eink technology. This technology could cut the weight of the phone and its power usage. For more info see: eink's website.

Multi I/O adapter

VGA, standard Jack (line in & out), standard USB

Transreflective

It would be nice to have (the option of) a transreflective display, which while being less bright, is readable without needing to power the backlight. Then again, it depends on how much power the backlight uses compared to everything else...

Input devices

DVB-T TV Receptor

Possibility of watching Digital TV on your mobile phone.

D-Pad and Buttons

Adding a D-pad (to the bottom of the phone) and 2 to 4 buttons (to the top) would provide some tactile input controls, in addition to the touchscreen. They could be used as shortcut keys in the menu, or playback control when playing media. When the phone is held sideways, they can be used as games controls. (With touchscreen alone, gameplay options are limited)

Game buttons would be best on both sides of the screen. The larger the buttons, the better. 2x 4 buttons in up-down-left-right configuration + some extra buttons separately a bit lower on the device would be good for many for emulation games.

Here is a concept drawing of a possible neo1973 gaming version:
(This has a 4-way direction pad, 8 way may be better for gaming)

Accelerometer

This enables the phone to sense where 'down' is - to enable various options.

Some important notes about this design:

Green button on top, left is dial. Red button on top, right is hang up. Could double as enter/escape.

Blue buttons are shift, symbol, backspace and localization.

Localization button modifies the basic Latin symbols to produce the variants used in many European (and non European such as Turkish) languages.

Yellow buttons make the numeric pad.

Provides a full keyboard, yet the device is significantly smaller than any other comparable.

The design above uses a 2.6" screen, which is the minimum size for VGA.

Keys are bigger than, for example, those of a Treo.

Allows for one handed operation. Absolutely necessary for a phone.

Credit Card Swiper/Reader

A credit card swipe function on the device, so that business operators can use the device to accept payments. Existing devices are very expensive. Transaction information is sent over the internet, transaction "hub" services like 1stData could receive the data and reply with email receipts to the merchant, who could then forward the receipt to customer's email, or print a receipt on a bluetooth printer.

Rather than a traditional magnetic strip credit card swiper, consider including a smart card reader, possibly contactless. Not only would this be more secure, it would require much less real estate on the device and the software implementation would be similar to the interface for the SIM card.

Thermometer

An electronic thermometer might become handy for some users.

There are very small I2C devices available, that could easily integrate to the existing bus. For example this one from ti.

Barometer and Variometer

A Barometer measures air pressure. This can be used to give weather information, and also as a variometer, to sense relative altitude. Variometers are commonly used in flying microlight and ultralight aircraft, to get accurate relative altitude.

Finger print sensor

Fingerprint sensor gives easy and fast access to the phone, could lock the touchscreen etc. An example of this device can be found at Sony UX17.

As these are typically implemented with a small camera (256*4) focussed on the finger, with appropriate hardware and software, you can also use them as an optical mouse in reverse, detecting movement of the finger over the sensor.

Trackball

A trackball would provide an efficient mouse-like interface in a very compact package. As exemplified in the newer Blackberry® models.
Maybe instead an optical sensor as are used in mice could be used so that the whole phone can be moved over a surface just like a mouse. The same sensor might be usable as a barcode reader

Analog Joystick

How 'bout an analog joystick, gaming-console style, instead of a D-Pad or a trackball?

Or how 'bout a Rollermouse-like device? But do we need any of this, considering the touchscreen?

Two SD slots

I believe this would be a great idea, if put into practice. It would solve the extensibility need, usually associated with Open Source projects. It would allow for lots of other devices and for functionality to be developed and put into use without making it a burden for FIC.

USB

Powered, to avoid having to carry around a hub for when you want to occasionally plug in a memory stick. Many powered hubs will not recognise a totally unpowered host.

OTG (is this maybe supported already ?)

Bootable USB device emulation: the possibility to boot any computer on a bootable flagged partition of the transflash.

Wireless USB support

Wireless USB is the wireless version of USB offering data-rates up to 480 Mbit/s over short distances (<3 meter). Chipsets suitable for a phone are likely to take some time to be available.

SIR/FIR transceiver (Serial Infrared) / remote control

An infrared tranceiver is cheap, small, and useful for sync with many laptops and mobile phones. A learning infrared remote is another application.

It could be used to detect when to turn off the display (if the low power IR signal is reflected) and activate the key lock.

FIR would be a nice option, as it's some 40 times faster than SIR.

I2C breakout

I2C is an internal bus in the phone. This is a simple bus, with only 2-3 wires, hence ideal for making accessible to those making add-ons, as it is low powered, and can be daisy-chained. It would be a great candidate to bring out into the Expansion Back.

Output devices

LED

A blinking LED would be a cheap, low power way to inform the user of new SMS/Email....

An alternative to this would be for one small part of the LCD to be separately backlit.

This requires the CPU and LCD to be somewhat active, to keep the LCD refreshed, but gives much more information.

For example a multicolour LED which pulses yellow for GSM/GPRS transmit, blue for Bluetooth/Wifi, green to indicate non-urgent information - missed call etc, red to indicate battery low or other urgent notices.

The LED and button ideas could be combined: illuminated buttons.

Mobile Communication options

Faster/better mobile connectivity.

GSM/GPRS is at best slow. Ideally supporting EDGE - which is an evolved form of GPRS, UTMS - which is widespread in europe, HDSPA (asia) and any other mobile standards would be nice.
It is unlikely that all of these will be supported initially, but it is a goal.
Until that goal is reached, it is likely that some phones will be brought out for various specific markets - europe, asia, US.

Ability to insert more than one Sim-Card and (if possible) connect to more than one network at the same time

This could be achieved via a specialist dual SIM card kit (currently on market)- where two SIMs are trimmed and combined on one card, software support for dual SIMs would need providing...

What about twin-SIMs (SIMs with 2 phone lines registered on them)? Conventional GSM phones have an option to switch between the two, older ones use # (long press before dialling) to do that. I'm guessing Calypso should support it, we just need to provide an interface for it :-) --@Dexter 11:34, 19 February 2007 (CET)

-- This is ALS (Alternate Line Service) and is a network feature which must be activated on your account. You should be able to get the GSM modem to send a USSD sequence to the network an achieve this. Newer, handsets/networks would support the Multiple Subscriber Profiles which handles it all better but you are right that it would need to be included in the UI. User:Eggsy

Put the SIM slots on the side of the phone for easy in/out. These are common in mobile phones in China. Very handy for travel or switch carriers.

PMR446/FRS Radio

Include a PMR/FRS Radio.

A two-way walkie talkie lets you use the phone to communicate with friends without requiring a GSM connection (crowded networks at festivals, at locations with no GSM coverage).

Misc

Galileo/GLONASS/GPS receiver

A multi-standard satellite positioning module would be nice eventually, it does not seem to be near-term due to chipset availability problems. Galileo is the to be launched European positioning system. GLONASS is the already existing Russian one.

X10 RF Remote

Many PC-based media centers are being equipped with an RF (433 MHz) / X10-based remote control. The X10 protocol also facilitates home automation to control lamps, switches, etc.
The advantages of using RF for control instead of Infra-red this that it also works when furniture, walls, or doors are blocking the path between RF remote and the equipment or device. Lirc supports X10-based RF remotes (but expects having an USB RF receiver attached to the media center).

FM/Digital Radio(DAB) Receiver

RFID tag/RFID Reader

An enable-able tag would be of use - for example being able to use the phone to open doors, or cars. Unfortunately, it's moderately hard to do secure programmable tags that are compatible with existing systems, for obvious reasons.

Standard 3.5mm jack

Adapters to 2.5mm are of course available, but 3.5mm jacks are much more robust.
One question would be are headsets available in 3.5mm.

I agree, if you are going to play music from it, it needs a standard 3.5mm jack, no adapters.

Speaker-phone

A speaker-phone is more than simply connecting the speakers to GSM audio, it's also echo cancellation, and eliminating the feedback that will otherwise happen between the speakers and the mic. This software has not been written.

Special covers

A standard slip-on or clip-on template (possibly with buttons) to make the touch-screen blind accessible

Small metal frame for protection (like Siemens M65, only with more style)

WHAT NOT TO DO: ==

No DRM music system or you must buy from our network etc... I want to plug it in to my USB port and drag and drop my music, that's it, simple, no synchronization needed.

With all due respect to the keypad people, please do not add a keypad it just takes up space that should be occupied by the touchscreen, there are good text recognizers out there that are simple and easy to use, if you need a keypad make it an attachment. That being said you may want to add simple keys for easy dialing, don't forget its a phone, don't make it hard to use it as a phone.

Business Card Reader

This is probably technically difficult if not impossible, maybe you could do it with the embedded camera hardware & software etc...:
I want to be able to place a business card face down on the the screen, and have the device automatically read the card and enter the info in the contacts.

Ruggedized Version:

We need something you can drop from 4 feet in to a puddle of dirty water on construction site. You know the big ugly pseudo military version

All band compatibility

Is it possible to make the phone so it can work on any cell network including the Veriz** network in the USA. Unfortunately, the FCC has allowed network providers to have proprietary phones etc... The way the US system works tends to cheapen the phone itself because there is more money in the selling of service, this tends to foster semi-disposable phones. Don't loose focus, you are in business to make money selling phones, make really good solid phones and they will be appreciated. My ideal is to be able to go purchase a phone, purchase a service separately, and be able to change services when necessary.

Completely free hardware

Consider selling one device with absolutely no non-free components in it, even if that means dropping the GSM support. I believe having one such device available would be good, because then it could be recommended by organizations like the FSF which typically never recommends anything if it has even a little non-free code in it.

Ideas that are unlikely to be implemented in phones similar to the Neo1973.

Some may be put into very different phones, some are impossible with current technology.

WiMAX support

WiMAX is targeting high-speed mobile data and telecommunications services. Hardware for portable usage based on the IEEE802.16e standard is now availabe and deployment around the world is being executed, heavily promoted by Intel Capital. For example, a Dutch initiative called WorldMAX has the exclusive license to use the 3.5GHz band in The Nethelands to offer "internet-in-your-pocket" services.

Near Field Communication

Near Field Communication support would enable many new applications for the Neo1973 such as a digital wallet or electronic keys. NFC is designed to work at very short ranges (0-20cm) and can be used to pair devices for longer range/higher bandwidth communications such as Bluetooth. In fact, the recently introduced Bluetooth 2.1 Core Specification includes NFC support.

Camera

Video-capable camera

A camera that is able to take reasonable quality video and pictures is something many want. Applications vary from simple snapping, to gesture interfaces, video conferencing, barcode reading and more.

Some people can't take cameras into work - a model without the camera, or some way of removing the camera would be useful.

This is also useful for several business applications (like healthcare, servicing, etc)

Camera with macro - useful for taking pictures of flowers/insects, but also for scanning business cards for an automated business card to contact informantion process

Can we make the camera an option, many Government buildings do not allow camera phones

Video acceleration

3D acceleration

HMD

EPD

Or electronic paper display, EPD is used in many new devices such as the new Motorola motofone, sonys new e-reader and Irex's iliad. The technology provides thin, flexible, power saving screens using new eink technology. This technology could cut the weight of the phone and its power usage. For more info see: eink's website.

Multi I/O adapter

VGA, standard Jack (line in & out), standard USB

Transreflective

It would be nice to have (the option of) a transreflective display, which while being less bright, is readable without needing to power the backlight. Then again, it depends on how much power the backlight uses compared to everything else...

Input devices

DVB-T TV Receptor

Possibility of watching Digital TV on your mobile phone.

D-Pad and Buttons

Adding a D-pad (to the bottom of the phone) and 2 to 4 buttons (to the top) would provide some tactile input controls, in addition to the touchscreen. They could be used as shortcut keys in the menu, or playback control when playing media. When the phone is held sideways, they can be used as games controls. (With touchscreen alone, gameplay options are limited)

Game buttons would be best on both sides of the screen. The larger the buttons, the better. 2x 4 buttons in up-down-left-right configuration + some extra buttons separately a bit lower on the device would be good for many for emulation games.

Here is a concept drawing of a possible neo1973 gaming version:
(This has a 4-way direction pad, 8 way may be better for gaming)

Accelerometer

This enables the phone to sense where 'down' is - to enable various options.

Some important notes about this design:

Green button on top, left is dial. Red button on top, right is hang up. Could double as enter/escape.

Blue buttons are shift, symbol, backspace and localization.

Localization button modifies the basic Latin symbols to produce the variants used in many European (and non European such as Turkish) languages.

Yellow buttons make the numeric pad.

Provides a full keyboard, yet the device is significantly smaller than any other comparable.

The design above uses a 2.6" screen, which is the minimum size for VGA.

Keys are bigger than, for example, those of a Treo.

Allows for one handed operation. Absolutely necessary for a phone.

Credit Card Swiper/Reader

A credit card swipe function on the device, so that business operators can use the device to accept payments. Existing devices are very expensive. Transaction information is sent over the internet, transaction "hub" services like 1stData could receive the data and reply with email receipts to the merchant, who could then forward the receipt to customer's email, or print a receipt on a bluetooth printer.

Rather than a traditional magnetic strip credit card swiper, consider including a smart card reader, possibly contactless. Not only would this be more secure, it would require much less real estate on the device and the software implementation would be similar to the interface for the SIM card.

Thermometer

An electronic thermometer might become handy for some users.

There are very small I2C devices available, that could easily integrate to the existing bus. For example this one from ti.

Barometer and Variometer

A Barometer measures air pressure. This can be used to give weather information, and also as a variometer, to sense relative altitude. Variometers are commonly used in flying microlight and ultralight aircraft, to get accurate relative altitude.

Finger print sensor

Fingerprint sensor gives easy and fast access to the phone, could lock the touchscreen etc. An example of this device can be found at Sony UX17.

As these are typically implemented with a small camera (256*4) focussed on the finger, with appropriate hardware and software, you can also use them as an optical mouse in reverse, detecting movement of the finger over the sensor.

Trackball

A trackball would provide an efficient mouse-like interface in a very compact package. As exemplified in the newer Blackberry® models.
Maybe instead an optical sensor as are used in mice could be used so that the whole phone can be moved over a surface just like a mouse. The same sensor might be usable as a barcode reader

Analog Joystick

How 'bout an analog joystick, gaming-console style, instead of a D-Pad or a trackball?

Or how 'bout a Rollermouse-like device? But do we need any of this, considering the touchscreen?

Two SD slots

I believe this would be a great idea, if put into practice. It would solve the extensibility need, usually associated with Open Source projects. It would allow for lots of other devices and for functionality to be developed and put into use without making it a burden for FIC.

USB

Powered, to avoid having to carry around a hub for when you want to occasionally plug in a memory stick. Many powered hubs will not recognise a totally unpowered host.

OTG (is this maybe supported already ?)

Bootable USB device emulation: the possibility to boot any computer on a bootable flagged partition of the transflash.

Wireless USB support

Wireless USB is the wireless version of USB offering data-rates up to 480 Mbit/s over short distances (<3 meter). Chipsets suitable for a phone are likely to take some time to be available.

SIR/FIR transceiver (Serial Infrared) / remote control

An infrared tranceiver is cheap, small, and useful for sync with many laptops and mobile phones. A learning infrared remote is another application.

It could be used to detect when to turn off the display (if the low power IR signal is reflected) and activate the key lock.

FIR would be a nice option, as it's some 40 times faster than SIR.

I2C breakout

I2C is an internal bus in the phone. This is a simple bus, with only 2-3 wires, hence ideal for making accessible to those making add-ons, as it is low powered, and can be daisy-chained. It would be a great candidate to bring out into the Expansion Back.

Output devices

LED

A blinking LED would be a cheap, low power way to inform the user of new SMS/Email....

An alternative to this would be for one small part of the LCD to be separately backlit.

This requires the CPU and LCD to be somewhat active, to keep the LCD refreshed, but gives much more information.

For example a multicolour LED which pulses yellow for GSM/GPRS transmit, blue for Bluetooth/Wifi, green to indicate non-urgent information - missed call etc, red to indicate battery low or other urgent notices.

The LED and button ideas could be combined: illuminated buttons.

Mobile Communication options

Faster/better mobile connectivity.

GSM/GPRS is at best slow. Ideally supporting EDGE - which is an evolved form of GPRS, UTMS - which is widespread in europe, HDSPA (asia) and any other mobile standards would be nice.
It is unlikely that all of these will be supported initially, but it is a goal.
Until that goal is reached, it is likely that some phones will be brought out for various specific markets - europe, asia, US.

Ability to insert more than one Sim-Card and (if possible) connect to more than one network at the same time

This could be achieved via a specialist dual SIM card kit (currently on market)- where two SIMs are trimmed and combined on one card, software support for dual SIMs would need providing...

What about twin-SIMs (SIMs with 2 phone lines registered on them)? Conventional GSM phones have an option to switch between the two, older ones use # (long press before dialling) to do that. I'm guessing Calypso should support it, we just need to provide an interface for it :-) --@Dexter 11:34, 19 February 2007 (CET)

-- This is ALS (Alternate Line Service) and is a network feature which must be activated on your account. You should be able to get the GSM modem to send a USSD sequence to the network an achieve this. Newer, handsets/networks would support the Multiple Subscriber Profiles which handles it all better but you are right that it would need to be included in the UI. User:Eggsy

Put the SIM slots on the side of the phone for easy in/out. These are common in mobile phones in China. Very handy for travel or switch carriers.

PMR446/FRS Radio

Include a PMR/FRS Radio.

A two-way walkie talkie lets you use the phone to communicate with friends without requiring a GSM connection (crowded networks at festivals, at locations with no GSM coverage).

Misc

Galileo/GLONASS/GPS receiver

A multi-standard satellite positioning module would be nice eventually, it does not seem to be near-term due to chipset availability problems. Galileo is the to be launched European positioning system. GLONASS is the already existing Russian one.

X10 RF Remote

Many PC-based media centers are being equipped with an RF (433 MHz) / X10-based remote control. The X10 protocol also facilitates home automation to control lamps, switches, etc.
The advantages of using RF for control instead of Infra-red this that it also works when furniture, walls, or doors are blocking the path between RF remote and the equipment or device. Lirc supports X10-based RF remotes (but expects having an USB RF receiver attached to the media center).

FM/Digital Radio(DAB) Receiver

RFID tag/RFID Reader

An enable-able tag would be of use - for example being able to use the phone to open doors, or cars. Unfortunately, it's moderately hard to do secure programmable tags that are compatible with existing systems, for obvious reasons.

Standard 3.5mm jack

Adapters to 2.5mm are of course available, but 3.5mm jacks are much more robust.
One question would be are headsets available in 3.5mm.

I agree, if you are going to play music from it, it needs a standard 3.5mm jack, no adapters.

Speaker-phone

A speaker-phone is more than simply connecting the speakers to GSM audio, it's also echo cancellation, and eliminating the feedback that will otherwise happen between the speakers and the mic. This software has not been written.

Special covers

A standard slip-on or clip-on template (possibly with buttons) to make the touch-screen blind accessible

Small metal frame for protection (like Siemens M65, only with more style)

WHAT NOT TO DO: ==

No DRM music system or you must buy from our network etc... I want to plug it in to my USB port and drag and drop my music, that's it, simple, no synchronization needed.

With all due respect to the keypad people, please do not add a keypad it just takes up space that should be occupied by the touchscreen, there are good text recognizers out there that are simple and easy to use, if you need a keypad make it an attachment. That being said you may want to add simple keys for easy dialing, don't forget its a phone, don't make it hard to use it as a phone.

Business Card Reader

This is probably technically difficult if not impossible, maybe you could do it with the embedded camera hardware & software etc...:
I want to be able to place a business card face down on the the screen, and have the device automatically read the card and enter the info in the contacts.

Ruggedized Version:

We need something you can drop from 4 feet in to a puddle of dirty water on construction site. You know the big ugly pseudo military version

All band compatibility

Is it possible to make the phone so it can work on any cell network including the Veriz** network in the USA. Unfortunately, the FCC has allowed network providers to have proprietary phones etc... The way the US system works tends to cheapen the phone itself because there is more money in the selling of service, this tends to foster semi-disposable phones. Don't loose focus, you are in business to make money selling phones, make really good solid phones and they will be appreciated. My ideal is to be able to go purchase a phone, purchase a service separately, and be able to change services when necessary.

Completely free hardware

Consider selling one device with absolutely no non-free components in it, even if that means dropping the GSM support. I believe having one such device available would be good, because then it could be recommended by organizations like the FSF which typically never recommends anything if it has even a little non-free code in it.

Ideas that are unlikely to be implemented in phones similar to the Neo1973.

Some may be put into very different phones, some are impossible with current technology.